Return to Article: House bill aimed at increasing diversity among senior executives advances
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49136
When will the "American Establishment" wake up and realize that we are living in a World driven by leaders of Nations that could care less about the "Western" way of leadership, business, and socialization. America is only respected for our music,entertaintment,sports,internet and military. 30% of America (50% of Hawaii) is owned by the Japanese. 60% of our oil is exported from the Middle East; everything from Engineering to Business practices (TQM)are outsourced by leaders and nations that are not homogeneous, colonizing, racists such as we have in the U.S.....the caste system/good ole boy network created by this countries "founding fathers" is transparent (even when masked or changed - ie: no child left behind)and does not work in a world whose majority of people are brown. Ford,GM,KKK,U.S.Economy are the residuals of oppressing our countries greatest asset.....people of color. Pride is harming this country because the ethnic majority can not handle having a "minority" giving them orders.
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49048
With all due respect to Mr. Dan Ketter, I may not be the "best and brightest", but I'm pretty close. I'm always thinknig of ways to do the job "etter, faster, cheaper."
The only reason that I returned to Government service after almost 20 years in private industry (very succcessfully I might add) is for job security. I would have stayed in private industry except for the fact that the CEO of my former company (AT&T), like all other lemming CEOs, decided that it was cheaper to send my job overseas.
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49035
I love the continuing thread "the best and brightest" its an oxymoron.. If you are in government service by definition you are NOT the best or brightest. Your not a risk taker, innovator, laking creativity your a plodder
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49028
There's a political aspect here. Imagine either Senators Obama or Clinton become president; it's quite likely, as with Senator McCain. Having this legislation in place then COVERS a lot of past discrimination; it gives sitting officials that hired their "friends" an "out" and the past race/gender problems won't be discovered unless someone DIGS for federal hiring discrimination. If these fine presidential candidates (April 2008) decide to probe this issue as president, this legislation will be the first thing they'll be confronted with, as the message will be, "See, we fixed the problem with the legislation!" They need to be concerned enough to look past the legislation at practices that existed before and after its passage and tough enough on the issue to enforce removal, fine, and imprisonment of federal officials that engage in discriminatory practices (including sexual harassment), regardless of race or gender. If they are doing similar things ... Since minorities never created the hills and mountains, they should not be required to "level the playing field". Those who created them should be forced under penalty of fine and/or imprisonment to level it. I contend that they knew they weren't doing 'good'. When wrong is forgiven and not corrected, the society accumulates criminals (incarcerated or not). Would you like to live in a criminal-filled society? It seems as if that's where we're headed. Minority children were imprisoned and non-minority children were chided and told, "You [pick the gender] stop that and go on home now." The message that was received: - "it's OK to start something I know is wrong; the authorities will just tell me to stop and nothing else will happen to me. I can just quit anytime I want to." It happens/happened to both male and female. It's no wonder the old workforce has changed gender, but the discriminatory practices have continued. Little girls generally love their "daddies" and deep down inside believe they can do/did no wrong, including into adulthood. Once we as a nation reach the point where productivity trumps favoring race, gender and sexual preference, we'll be a better, well-adjusted workforce. Getting there is the real problem now. Since the minorities did not create the problem, they should not be required to fix it. However, reality says they are the only ones motivated and capable enough to fix it.
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49014
Congressman Davis, et al, stay focused. This is the right thing for America, if we truly want to be the best in the world again and change the direction of this Nation. We must pass this law to include ALL of the best and brightest in the senior ranks of the US federal government. Women and minorities have not received a fair shake. The boardrooms that I enter are still skewed based on the Good Ole Boy network. Their e-mails even begin with "Gentlemen."
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48986
People need to be advanced based on their performance and qualifications. All this Bill will do is advance people who are not qualified or up to the challenges associated with the position.
Its time people start working hard and earning their promotions instead of constantly playing the race or gender card.
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48843
This may sound outrage to some.
George Washington said the best people, regardless of political party affiliation, should be elected to government. Washington said political parties are dictator-ships and copy from the wigs and torries and other royal appointment systems.
At Wahington's purity standard or litmus tests-- how much goes at promoting superior leadership and how much goes at silly political party divisions and litmus tests.
Maybe if the republican and democratic party would be made illegal, more people of all race and ethic and religious affilition would be elected.
Then George Washinton could say: I do not care where they come from, they are our best leaders.
Just for a kick, tune into Washington's speeches and ideals as easy at internet searches histories.
Geo1 was the one who gave me this idea.
Peace
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48806
Hey "One of the overlooked," did you ever think that you were overlooked b/c you just weren't qualified, or did you automatically play the race/gender card?
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48804
This nonsense should have had a stake put through its heart long ago.
"In the long run, the world is going to have the best, and any difference in race, religion, or previous history will not long keep the world from what it wants." Booker T. Washington, circa 1901.
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48797
"When is this country going to let go of arbitrary quotas and focus on actual merit"?
And when is this country going to let go of the totally misguided idea that all minorities are without merit? AARGH!!!
There seems to be a totally incorrect notion that increasing diversity means selecting less qualified individuals. Rubbish! Increasing diversity simply allows QUALIFIED MINORITIES to receive the same consideration as their white counterparts. It means that all things being equal, the minority candidate will be given a chance to level the playing field. For many, many years, institutionalized racism meant that if you had a PhD, you were still only going to be allowed to mop floors if you were black.
White skin always was and still is an advantage. Even now, very qualified minority individuals will not be selected by some majority hiring officials, hello, wake up, prejudice is alive and well.
Besides, if managers have been selected on merit only, why is there so much incompetence among the whites holding these positions now? Truth be told, like hires like, white guys hired white guys no matter how marginal their qualifications. Under the old buddy system, unqualified folks are "mentored" and their mistakes forgiven because they are unseasoned, just learning, etc. No such largess is given to the minority, who had better come in the door performing at a high level or be labeled "unqualified."
It's all such rubbish.
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48795
I work for the Federal Govt and I now see people being promoted because of who they are not what they know. it is hurting the Federal Govt workforce not only in morale but these unqualified people are making unsound decisions. That's the reason I am now leaving the Federal workforce.
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48794
I work for the Federal Govt and I now see people being promoted because of who they are not what they know. it is hurting the Federal Govt workforce not only in morale but these unqualified people are making unsound decisions. That's the reason I am now leaving the Federal workforce.
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48791
-All racism and sexism are evil. -America must have programs that stop racism and sexism. -We need more SESs that are not white or male?
In twenty years of government service the only discrimination I've personally witnessed was against white males.
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48766
Hopefully, this long overdue legislation will be quickly finalized in both the House and the Senate. This won't be about quotas; it will be about assuring that the Federal Government is given the opportunity to be lead by the best-and-the-brightess members from all the population groups that make up American society.
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48764
Quota's have already been ruled on by the Supreme Court another bill that fosters divisiveness and hurts morale
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48757
Rep Norton's statements reveal how little she knows about the federal government. Her comments detract from both the spirit and intent this bill.
I'm glad she is powerless, otherwise, the results would be self-defeating.
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48755
The proposal sounds good but can it really work? Even now with all the talk of efforts to promote women and minorities, the agencies have found a loophole; to circumvent the minority issue. Basically, the old workforce (white males) has changed gender, not ethnicity. The new, old workforce is now dominated by white women, and once again qualified minorities are ignored.
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48754
When is this country going to let go of arbitrary quotas and focus on actual merit?
Apparently Congress hasn't noticed, but there are more than a couple of very prominent examples of minorities, women, and even minority women, who have managed to be extremely successful in the world of government and politics (not to mention the world at large) with hard work and dedication alone.
So, why do we need yet another layer bureaucracy to arbitrarily shape the work force? Personally, I find it insulting to think that women and minorities need a dedicated government office to help them be successful. The underlying notion here is the same as it was in the "Good ol' Days". It continues to perpetuate the ridiculous notion that women and minorities are not smart/strong/fast/reliable/tough/trustworthy (pick your stereotype) enough to make it on their own.
If we keep promoting these kinds of thought processes, how will we ever escape the notion that some people can't be successful unless someone just hands it to them?
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48723
This is a bill that has been needed for years, I'm excited to know that now members of Congress feels the same way...having diversity in the workforce especially at the top would only strengthen the federal government...Good job Congressman Davis!
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48721
Well, as a white male, I am confident that I will be considered equally for future SES opportunities and that in light of this legislation, the most qualified and well performing candidate will ultimately be the one selected for the position, not someone based on their gender or race!
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48713
Ms. Norton's comment is offensive. How does she know that one of those "white males" is not gay, which is an often overlooked and intentially ignored minority group in civil service? Maybe she shouldn't be so quick to judge on skin color or gender alone.
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48705
I really don't want to hear this stuff; it's been shoved down my throat for decades, blocking/delaying me from my entry level opportunities for years. It's still alive and well. Our director's own performance appraisal even stated "Promoted 11 Indiv to higher grades, 8 of which were minority/women." If one came to my building these days, you wouldn't see much evidence of "Male/White Dominance". With a war on terror going on, can we really afford this issue any more? If not, there will be plenty more disabled Americans on the way.
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48694
You left some out: Don't forget to add a position on the board for gays, transsexuals, and us old folks. We don't want to leave anybody off of the quota list.
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